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CHAPTER TEN ; WEIRDOS AND SLUTS
also known as;
( the monster )

★☆

"THIS MILKSHAKE TASTES LIKE SADNESS," STELLA GRUMBLED, PUSHING HER SUGARY TREAT AWAY FROM HER. Kevin watched across from her as she slumped further into the purple leather interior of their regular booth at the Indigo Diner. A bowl of fries sat in the centre of the table, half-finished and smothered in ketchup. Stella's glass still had a good amount left inside, so she allowed her friend to drink the rest of it. 

"Tastes like milk, ice cream and syrup to me," Kevin retorted, before practically inhaling the drink. An amused smile played at Stella's lips for a minute, before her eyes trailed outside. The diner was right in the middle of town, conveniently placed close to Melvald's General Store where Stella worked, RadioShack, the Hawk cinema and the arcade was just around the corner. Sometimes Stella would treat the boys to a drink when they finished up a long session on Dragon's Lair or Dig Dug. Kevin would often join them, as he sometimes worked there part time.

"Got a burger here for you, Stella," Leilani smiled, before dropping onto the seat beside her, breathless. Stella's head turned to see her friend, who also had bags under her eyes and a yawn surfacing. Her indigo and white waitress uniform was covered in ketchup stains and coffee spills, but she still managed to pull it off. "You two are lucky you don't have to work today. Barely anyone's coming in, it's a drag."

"The town's too depressed," Stella shrugged, picking up her burger and biting into it, still feeling a little dissociated. The burger still tasted good, they were the second best in town to Benny's Burgers, but he had shockingly committed suicide at the beginning of the week. She hadn't really had time to mourn the man, as she didn't know him that well and her mind was already plagued with the death of Will. "First Benny, then Will. Nancy Wheeler's friend Barb's missing too, I've seen her poster up around town."

"Speaking of Nancy Wheeler, what's her rush?" Kevin asked, and Stella raised an eyebrow as she turned to look at him, only to see him peering out the window. She followed his gaze, as did Leilani, only to see her running across the road in the direction of the Hawk, Jonathan Byers in pursuit. Kevin scoffed. "Why's she with him? I thought he took all those pictures of her."

Stella didn't answer, she only watched as Nancy stopped abruptly, staring up at the cinema. The teenager inside the diner's eyes travelled up, before her jaw slacked in shock. The words STARRING NANCY THE SLUT WHEELER were spray painted underneath All The Right Moves, the Tom Cruise movie currently screening. Rage immediately rushed through her body, already having her guesses as to who the cruel bullies were. "Oh my god."

"What?" Kevin asked, his eyes wide as he observed Stella shooting out of her chair and scooting past Leilani. Stella didn't look back, not paying attention to how her friends shared a look and bolted after her, standing in the doorway of the diner. "Stella?!"

The brunette girl stomped across the street, fury clear in her face. Nancy had run off looking for the source, and Jonathan glanced back, his eyes meeting Stella's. He pointed in the direction Nancy was running and she nodded once at him, glad he knew not to mess with her when she was fuming like this. 

Stella made it into the alleyway outside of the Hawk just in time to see Nancy slap Steve Harrington across the face. Her insides were boiling and she stormed up to the Wheeler girl's side, her fists clenched. 

"Hey, weirdo! Where's the roller-skates?" Tommy H. jeered, waving his cigarette and spray paint in the air, a disgusting grin upon his freckled face. Carol and Nicole giggled from behind him, enjoying the harassment of their classmate. Stella ignored them all, her narrowed eyes set on Steve. 

"What is wrong with you?" Nancy snapped at her boyfriend, whose expression was relatively neutral for someone who had just been attacked. 

"What's wrong with me? What's wrong with you?" He asked sourly, his eyebrows knitted together. "I was worried about you. I can't believe I was actually worried about you."

After watching Steve scoff, Nancy only grew more heated. "What are you talking about?"

"I wouldn't lie if I were you," Carol sneered, her eyes taunting and voice teasing. Stella couldn't stand the popular girl, she had never been kind to anyone, not even Steve. She only wanted to be known, to be scared of. She wasn't a good person, and probably never would be. "You don't want to be known as the lying slut now, do you?"

 "Give it up, Carol," Stella snapped, taking a step forward. All eyes were on her, waiting to see what the freak would say in defence of her next door neighbour. "You're not pretty enough to be this stupid. I don't know what this is about, but Nancy's one of the most trustworthy people I know."

"Speak of the devil," Tommy interrupted the Collins girl, bringing the attention to Jonathan, who had finally turned the corner. Nancy glanced back at Jonathan, before huffing and looking back at Steve. 

"So you came by last night?" Nancy queried, to which Stella's eyebrows quirked up in curiosity. 

"Ding! Ding! Ding!" Carol cheered as Tommy threw his arm around her shoulders, his lit cigarette hanging from his thin lips. Stella scowled at the popular girl, only to receive and resentful snarl in return. "Does she get a prize?"

"Look, I don't know what you think you saw, but it wasn't like that," Nancy snapped, but Steve still remained undeterred by her claims. 

His eyes flickered over to Jonathan, who stood next to Stella and behind Nancy. "What, so you just let him into your room to...study?"

"Or for another pervy photo session?" Tommy snickered, his ugly face contorting as he sneered at the outcasted teens. 

Nancy scoffed, clearly exasperated. "We were just-"

"You were just what? Finish that sentence," Steve finally took a step forward, crossing his arms and frowning deeply. Stella was surprised to see the hurt in his eyes, she could recognise it anywhere. Despite what she thought, maybe he did actually care about Nancy Wheeler. Though as he took another step forward, she felt a little intimidated. What if he tried something? "Finish that sentence."

Nancy exhaled heavily, shutting her eyes. Stella pursed her lips, unsure of what to do. This wasn't her fight, but she sure wanted to kick someone's ass (mainly Tommy's). 

Steve scoffed at his girlfriend's silence, shaking his head. "Go to hell, Nancy."

"Come on, Nancy," Jonathan grabbed Nancy by the shoulder as she went to dive forward, holding her back. Stella moved forward a little as well, just in case things got out of hand. "Let's just leave."

"You know what, Byers?" Steve suddenly spoke roughly towards Jonathan. He ran a hand through his hair, his jaw tight and expression quickly filling with anger. He began walking after Jonathan and Nancy, shoving the boy in the back violently. "I'm actually kind of impressed. I always took you for a queer, but I guess you're just a little screw up like your father."

"Steve, cut it out," Stella snapped, grabbing his arm only to have him throw her off. "Steve, stop!"

"Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, that house is full of screw ups," Steve continued, pushing Jonathan until he stopped, his back facing the popular boy. "You know, I guess I shouldn't really be surprised. A bunch of screw-ups in your family. I mean, your mom, I'm not even surprised about what happened to your brother. I'm sorry I have to be the one to tell you, but the Byers, their family, it's a disgrace to the entire--"

Before he could finish, Jonathan whipped around and punched him in the cheek, sending him to the ground. Stella was in too much shock to register what had just happened, she couldn't believe all the things Steve had just said. Said boy grunted as he recovered, before turning around and tackling Jonathan onto the car that resided in the alleyway.  

"Steve!" Nancy yelled, her eyes wide as she then looked over at Stella. "Stella, do something!"

"What the hell am I meant to do?!" She shot back, before huffing and diving forward and grab Steve. Just as her hand brushed his arm, Tommy grabbed her shoulders and held her back, despite her struggling. Stella was pretty strong, but clearly not enough for the basketball player to let her go. "Tommy, get off!" 

"Quit getting involved in other people's fights, then," he snarled. Stella's fists tightened at her side and she leaned forward, before quickly turning around and socking the jock in the jaw. Tommy groaned at the unsuspecting hit, only to swing back at her. Stella took a step back, before lifting her leg and kneeing him in the crotch. The asshole of a teenage boy squeaked, backing into the wall behind him. 

"Tommy, get in there, he's going to hurt himself!" Carol demanded, uncaring towards the fact her boyfriend just got wasted by the weirdo. Tommy huffed loudly, clearly not in the mood to participate in the brawl. 

Still breathing heavily, Tommy sent a glare towards Stella, before he stepped over to the fight and grabbed Jonathan. "Stop it, man."

"Get out of here," Steve snapped, pushing his friend out of the way. Jonathan swung his fist, his strength far outweighing the popular boy's. 

"Jonathan, stop!" Nancy yelled, her brows furrowed and her face turning pink in fright. "Stop! You're going to hurt him!"

With another knock to the face, Steve collapsed to the ground, finally realising that maybe it wasn't a good idea to pick a battle with the already angered Jonathan Byers. This was too late, as the siren of a police car alerted the group of teenagers. Steve was too busy getting his face pummelled to notice, until Tommy called out. "Cops! Cops! Come on!"

 Stella perked up quickly and suddenly came across the predicament regarding whether or not she should run. Tommy pushed past her, trying to pry Jonathan off Steve. Carol and Nicole had already bolted, not taking any chances in getting caught. Officer Callahan burst out of his car and grabbed Jonathan's arm, but the Byers boy flung his elbow back, hitting the policeman in the nose accidentally. Callahan fell back and winced. "Ah! My nose!"

Officer Powell picked up Jonathan, dodging his flying fists. "Calm him down!"

Tommy tried holding Steve up, rushing away as quickly as they could. "Go, go, go!"

Steve glanced back at Nancy and Stella, his eyes locking with the quirkier girl. Stella's lips pursed as she stared at the boy for a moment, before turning her head back to the younger teenagers and deciding to stay. The popular boys fled the scene, chased by Callahan. 

Glancing over at Nancy, Stella sighed and reached over, pulling the stressed out girl for a hug. Jonathan yelped as he was put in handcuffs by Officer Powell, who didn't hesitate in shoving him in the back of the police car. 

Powell looked back at the two girls, crossing his arms and sighing. "You two can explain what happened when we get to the station. Both of you, in the car now."

"But we didn't do anything," Stella grumbled, before pointing to Jonathan in the car. "He was just sticking up for himself."

"That's nice, Stella," Powell smiled sarcastically, before ushering her inside. "I don't really care."

★☆

"Estella Collins," Flo murmured, glancing up at the teenage girl. Despite the shitty feeling that she had been feeling all week, she could still managed a soft smile at the police station receptionist. "It's been a while."

"I suppose that's a good thing when it comes to the police," Stella retorted, though it got a light chuckle out of Flo. Leaning up against the desk, Stella sighed deeply. "When can I leave? And this isn't going to go on my record or anything right? You aren't gonna call mom?"

"No, I'm not gonna call her, and this isn't going on your record," Flo sighed. She, Jonathan and Nancy had been there for a little under half an hour, but that was like a million years in Stella's book. She was growing restless, feeling both fatigued and irritated. The middle aged lady who sat behind the front desk clearly was getting a little fidgety too, especially regarding how Stella wouldn't leave her alone. "You can leave in a minute, the Chief should be here soon."

"The Chief?" Stella groaned, dropping her head in her hands. "I didn't even do anything bad!"

"You did punch Tommy H., from what you told me," Flo muttered, and Stella shrugged. 

"It was self defence!" She exclaimed, glancing back at Jonathan and Nancy, who were seemingly bonding over an ice pack. "When can they leave?"

"Nancy can go when you do, Jonathan has to stay," Flo responded, scrawling something on the paperwork she was currently doing. 

"Shit," Stella grumbled, hanging her head.

"Watch your language, Estella," Flo grumbled, before perking up when Chief Hopper barged in, following Joyce Byers. Stella stood up straight and tailed behind the two adults. 

"Jonathan?" Joyce threw her hands up in the air, her dark eyes wide in anger as she confronted her son. "Jesus, what...what happened?"

"I'm fine," Jonathan sighed, holding the ice pack a little tighter to his hand. He averted his gaze from his stressed mother, not wanting to to look her in the eyes. 

"Why is he wearing handcuffs?" Joyce exclaimed, glaring up at Callahan, who sighed softly. 

"Well, your boy assaulted a police officer, that's why," he responded easily. 

"Take them off!" She shot back angrily, and he shook his head. He always seem to remain calm at the most stressful times, which was why Stella was a fan. He was funny and sarcastic, even a little stupid sometimes. But, during the few times she had spent at the station, he was always her favourite. 

"I'm afraid I cannot do that," he shrugged.

"Take them off," Chief Hopper huffed over Joyce's yelling, his usual 'done with everyone's shit' attitude present. 

"Chief, I get that everyone's emotional here, but there's something you need to see," Powell mumbled, gesturing outside, no doubt going to show him the contents of Jonathan's trunk. 

A few moments later, they returned, dropping the box on Callahan's desk. Stella's eyebrows raised as she peered inside over Joyce's shoulder, not catching the guilty looks upon Nancy and Jonathan's faces. "What is this?"

"Why don't you ask your son?" Hopper muttered, staring straight at Jonathan pointedly. "Found it in his car."

"What?" Joyce exclaimed, her head snapping over to her son.

"Damn," Stella didn't really know what to expect, so she was in great surprise to see the bear traps, gasoline, nails and gun ammunition in a big cardboard box. 

"Why are you going through my car?" Jonathan snapped, his eyes narrowed at the police chief.

"Is that really the question you should be asking right now?" Hopper scowled, leaning forward onto the desk, striking intimidation in the teenage boy before him. "I wanna see you in my office."

"You won't believe me," Jonathan instantly gasped out, to which Hopper rolled his eyes. 

"Why don't you give me a try?" He shot back, before waving him in the direction of his office. 

Stella's expression contorted into one of pure confusion, looking at everyone that surrounded her. All were incredibly serious, like they all knew something she didn't. Then again, she was pretty oblivious. So, as Jonathan picked up his box of weapons and went with Chief Jim Hopper to his office, she followed them both along with Joyce Byers and Nancy Wheeler, two people she never thought she be hanging out with on a Saturday afternoon. 

★☆

THIS CHAPTER WAS BAD I'M SORRY

BUT HEY!! MAYBE STELLA WILL ACTUALLY BE CAUGHT UP ON THIS SHIT NOW??? WHOOOOO KNOWS???

ALSO WHO CAUGHT THAT LOOK™ THAT STEVE AND STELLA SHARED WOOOOoOoooooOoOoOOOO

THERE SHOULD ONLY BE A FEW MORE CHAPTERS BEFORE WE REACH THE END OF SEASON ONE!!! WHICH MEANS SEASON TWOOOOOOO!!! THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR THE LOVE THIS BOOK HAS RECEIVED, I'M REALLY PROUD OF IT SO FAR???

hope you all enjoyed the chapter, tell me what you thought and what you think is gonna happen!! i love hearing your feedback!! 

okay well byeeee i'm gonna write and watch stardust now, and i'm excited as hell cause the infinity war trailer comes out in less than 24 hours (but its coming out at like 2am in nz so i have to stay up uGgHHgHghghHHH!!! later guys xx